What's the cost of 3 hours?

There are so many people who charge an hourly rate.  Mechanics, Doctors, Plumbers, Clowns, Tutors, probably even politicians.
I've wondered if I charged an hourly rate how much my time would be worth.  I got to thinking that one cold afternoon as my car wouldn't start.  Funny thing about my car.  It has a security device in it.  I'm thankful that my car is extra secure, but it's worth almost nothing, so why would I be concerned about someone trying to steal it?  Well, the security device has a propensity to short out.  When that happens, the car will not start and there is nothing you can do about it. 
Thank goodness I have AAA right?  So, I call the trusty 800 number on the back and they tell me that it will be 45 minutes (which I'm pretty sure is their standard response) before someone is going to come out and help me.  They ask me if I want my car towed.  Well, I'd like to see if the battery is dead and if it isn't then I'd like the car towed.  AAA guy #1 arrives about an hour and a half after I make the call.  Let me remind everyone that it is very cold out.  Below freezing would be a conservative estimate.  This guy arrives, hooks my car up to his battery jumper.  Nothing.  Ok, tow me away.  He can't do that, because his car can only check your battery, it can't tow you.  So, now I've got to wait 45 minutes for another agent with a towing device to tow me.  Let me add at this point that 45 minutes becomes another hour and a half, and would have been longer had I not gotten on the phone and let the fur fly.  Why does it come to me having to release the fury?  By this point, everywhere that my car could possibly get towed is closed.  My dealership has agreed to take my car as long as it gets in before 9pm.  This problem all began at 5.  At the time of the problem, I could have gotten towed right down the street and been in good shape.  At 9pm, there aren't many places that you can get towed.

Here's a fun fact for everyone.  Basic AAA will get you towed 3 miles for free.  Plus will get you towed for 100 miles for free.  So basically, if you have basic AAA, enjoy the free maps, because that's about all you'll be getting for you $42 a year.  The Plus is $75ish a year.  So basically, you get maps and when your car breaks down you get towed a little further.  You know how much I had to pay to get towed?  $42. 

So, this is where my membership will be going this year.  I will NEVER sign up for AAA again.  The cost to get towed on that delightful freezing cold evening is only slightly higher than a whole year's membership. 


Dear AAA,
Thanks for nothing.  I also really appreciated being on hold for 10 minutes as well.  The battery from my cell phone kept my otherwise frostbitten head warm.  YOU HAVE AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE.  YOU HAVE POOR RESPONSE TIMES.  YOUR SERVICE IS A RIPOFF.  YOUR MAPS AREN'T THAT GREAT EITHER!  I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO MAPQUEST?  IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING.  HAVE FUN RIPPING OFF SOMEONE ELSE!  I HOPE EVERY AAA MEMBER READS THIS AND CANCELS YOUR RIP OFF SERVICE!!!!@!!!!
love always,

Jeff